Repression against students continues: Borhan Baqaee and Mehran Koosha sentenced in Mashhad

Borhan Baqaee and Mehran Koosha two leftwing students of the Freedom and Equality Seeking Students (Daneshjouyan-e Azadi Khah va Beraber Talab) group have been sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment each though suspended for 5 years at the Revolutionart Court in Mashhad by Judge Kasuvi. This decision comes after the continued repression against the left in the students’ movement where in December 2007 the security forces arrested many left wing students, along with other activists Borhan and Mehran had received threats and faced intimidation from the Ministry of Security. They were arrested in the summer of 2008 in Mashhad where they were kept in detention for over a month subjected to physical and mental torture. After the security forces had received a guarantee they were released but then sentenced after a long delay.

Hands Off the People of Iran calls for their sentences to be dropped and for all of those arrested and imprisoned for fighting the regime to be immediately released without conditions.